Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

Adam Pacheco, the El Paso director of Associated General Contractors, isn’t complaining about the El Paso economy these days – not at all.

“As far as construction goes, you couldn’t ask for anything better,” he said, describing the projects underway half way through 2017. “This is pretty much what contractors look for.”

By far, the majority of work is publicly financed – the city quality of life bond projects, highway construction and a new building under construction at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to name a few projects.

But, Pacheco said, there’s nothing wrong with that because private investment comes right behind it.

“It goes hand in hand,” he said. “You build a new school, and homes go up around it.”

Mayor Dee Margo, addressing contractors, local officials and others at an Associated General Contractors meeting Thursday, touted the addition of about 4,500 jobs this year, including 1,690 professionals and 1,200 leisure and hospitality workers.

The city’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.9 percent, just above the state rate.

Margo also noted that El Paso is second in job growth in Texas at 3.3 percent, behind the Dallas metropolitan area, which is at 3.6 percent.

But, he said, 70 percent of the city’s tax base is based on single-family homes, which contributed to an anemic 1.4 percent increase in the city’s property tax base this year – the smallest increase among the state’s major cities.

“And, that is the problem,” he said, because a growing city with growing demands needs a growing housing market along with stronger industrial and commercial sectors to help with the burden.

Looking at the city’s continuing work on quality of life projects, the start of construction on the El Paso Independent School District’s $669 million in bond projects next year along with the Ysleta school district’s projects, Pacheco said the construction boom goes over the horizon.

“The future for the next 10 years looks pretty good,” Pacheco said.

The work is attracting out-of-town companies, he said. But as yet, he hasn’t seen signs that El Paso contractors are having a hard time keeping up.

“No one’s complaining,” Pacheco said. “I guess that’s a good problem to have. Everybody is pretty happy and excited about all the opportunities that are coming around here in El Paso.”


To read more click on This Link

 

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

1. The sun shines in El Paso about 82 percent of the time.

Think about what 300-plus days of sunshine each year really means. Feel the warmth on your skin. Got it? In El Paso, you can play year round, whether it’s golf, hiking, biking, swimming, birding, climbing mountains or just relaxing in a deck chair as you enjoy the rays.

2. Education in El Paso gets excellent grades.

Outstanding public schools in three school districts make El Paso families happy and well educated. El Paso Community College serves 35,000 students. The University of Texas at El Paso is observing its 100th anniversary in 2014.

3. El Pasoans eat well.

From classic Italian to authentic Tex-Mex, barbecue to fine dining, El Paso’s dinner table is varied and inviting. 

4. You’ll never run out of things to do in El Paso.

Dodgeball, volleyball, kickball, soccer and basketball – you can play it all here in a modern, multipurpose gyms. 

5. El Paso’s cultural scene embraces all types of art.

Culture vulture? You’ll be delighted by El Paso’s many arts offerings. The city’s museums are first-rate, from the El Paso Museum of Art to the El Paso Museum of History, which celebrates the city’s vibrant multicultural heritage.


A very interesting article, view the original post: here

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

 

First, it is necessary to start by defining what is an asset and liability. An asset is anything that generates money flow into our pockets On the other hand, a liability is the opposite. True goods or services require money, maintenance, payments, etc. That is, he takes silver from his own pocket.

Do we get cash when we buy a house?

No, on the contrary, money comes out of our pockets.

When we are 100% real estate owners, do we earn money?

No, it does not matter if you do not have mortgages, debts or credits. All property requires maintenance expenses, payment of taxes and payment of services like electricity, water, among others.

An owned property would be considered an asset as long as it generates revenue after all debts have been paid. If all of the expenses are paid and there is money left in your pocket, there if a house is considered an asset.

For more information read this article

Is My Home an Asset or a Liability?

 

 

 

 

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

A higher salary and the ability to save are the two most important characteristics missing for young people who want to buy a home.

The millennials have no savings, but are interested in purchasing a home in the next 5 years, so they are willing to make sacrifices for the down payment and buy their first home.

80% of millennials say they want to buy a home—but most have less than $1,000 saved.

New data from Apartment List shows that, although 80 percent of millennials would like to purchase real estate, very few are in a good position to buy, largely because they have nothing saved. According to the report, “68 percent of millennials said they have saved less than $1,000 for a down payment. Almost half, or 44 percent, of millennials said they have not saved anything for a down payment.”

Depending on where they are looking to buy, given their current savings rate, millennials are 10 years or more away from home ownership. Young residents will have to be exceptionally patient: Odds are they won’t be in a good position to buy an apartment for “almost 24 years,” or “until the year 2041.

In order to make buying a realistic part of a five-year plan, most millennials will have to start saving more. Luckily, research has shown that millennials are actually good savers, though their priorities are different and distinct from those of other generations: They’re generally eyeing short-term goals rather than long-term ones. But, if becoming property owner’s matters enough to them, they may well be able to make their home-buying dreams come true.

The full report can be retrieved from here:

 https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/26/most-millennials-want-to-buy-a-home-but-about-half-have-nothing-saved.html

 

 

 

 

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

Here are the latest statistics for El Paso, Texas (courtesy of point2homes):

Population Demographics
-Total population: 832,283
-Male population: 404,085
-Female population: 428,201
-Median age: 30.7 years

Household
-Total households: 271,728
-Family households: 207,647
-Non-family households: 64,079
-Households with children: 126,792
-Households without children: 144,932
-Average People Per Household: 3.09

Education
-No High School: 89,448
-Some High School: 54,299
-Some College: 105,389
-Associate Degree: 30,599
-Bachelors Degree: 62,889
-Graduate Degree: 31,054

Marital Status
-Never Married: 180,220
-Married: 239,402
-Separated: 30,954
-Widowed: 11,383
-Divorced: 41,933

Average Income
-Median Income Under 25: $25,484
-Median Income 25-44: $35,488
-Median Income 45-64: $46,571
-Media Income Over 65: $39,362
-Average Household Income: $49,593
-Median Household Income: $38,358
-Average Household Net Worth: $300,648
-Median Home Sale Price: $101,936

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to move to a new neighborhood, or you want to know if your current neighborhood is a good fit for you, these questions can help you gauge for quality. These are the questions that the American Planning Association (APA) use to determine a neighborhood’s eligibility for “great neighborhood”.

Neighborhood Form and Composition

How does the neighborhood …

1. Capitalize on building design, scale, architecture, and proportionality to create interesting visual experiences, vistas, or other qualities? Accommodate multiple users and provide access (via walking, bicycling, or public transit) to multiple destinations that serve its residents? Foster social interaction and create a sense of community and neighborliness?

2. Promote security from crime is made safe for children and other users (i.e. traffic calming, other measures)?

3. Use, protect, and enhance the environment and natural features?

Neighborhood Character and Personality

How does the neighborhood …

1. Reflect the community’s local character and set itself apart from other neighborhoods?

2. Retain, interpret, and use local history to help create a sense of place?

Neighborhood Environment and Sustainable Practices

How does the neighborhood …

1. Promote or protect air and water quality, protect groundwater resources, and respond to the growing threat of climate change? What forms of “green infrastructure” are used (e.g., local tree cover mitigating heat gain)?

2. Utilize measures or practices to protect or enhance local biodiversity or the local environment?

For a full list of guidelines, or to view the original article, click here.

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

With Summer on vacation, its time to focus on getting ourselves prepared for the half of the four seasons. Here are some tips to make sure your home is ready for Fall and Winter (courtesy of bobvila.com ):

1. Clear out the gutters.

Remove leaves and other debris from your drainpipe and gutters to prevent clogging. In areas with cold winters, outdoor faucets should be drained in the fall.

2. Clean the fireplace and chimney.

You can clear out ash and charred wood from the fireplace yourself, but leave the chimney cleaning to a professional. Have the chimney cleaner check the damper to ensure it can be tightly closed to prevent drafts.

3. Check the heating system.

Do a survey of your home’s heating vents to make sure they’re not blocked or covered by furniture, carpeting, or curtains. Dust vents and clean all filters. Make an appointment for an annual heating system check-up.

4. Store air conditioners.

If you have removable window air conditioners, be sure to unplug them before taking them down. Dust and clean before covering or storing.

5. Check for drafts.

Stay warm, save energy, and reduce your heating bills this fall by examining windows and doors for cracks and sealing them to prevent drafts.

6. Put up storm windows.
If you have removable screens, now’s the time to clean, store, and replace them with storm windows.

7. Ready the water heater.
Prepare for cooler weather by draining the water heater and clearing out any debris that has settled in the tank.

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

We, as a global community, have been affected with a large amount of natural disasters in a relatively short time-span. It is important to know what to do when one is unfortunate enough to be caught in such a situation. Here is some information on flooding (courtesy of Ready.gov): 

What

Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain or snowmelt, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris or ice, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems, Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

Where

Flooding can happen in any U.S. state or territory. It is particularly important to be prepared for flooding if you live in a low-lying area near a body of water, such as near a river, stream, or culvert; along a coast; or downstream from a dam or levee.

When

Flooding can occur during every season, but some areas of the country are at greater risk at certain times of the year. Coastal areas are at greater risk for flooding during hurricane season (i.e., June to November), while the Midwest is more at risk in the spring and during heavy summer rains. Ice jams occur in the spring in the Northeast and Northwest. Even the deserts of the Southwest are at risk during the late summer monsoon season.

Basic Safety Tips:

• Turn Around, Don’t Drown! ®

• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.

• Do not drive over bridges that are over fast-moving floodwaters. Floodwaters can scour foundation material from around the footings and make the bridge unstable.

• Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.

• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water.

• Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

For safety information on earthquakes, click here. For any other disasters, click here.

 

Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

While no one can know for sure what will happen to housing values, if you make the choice to buy a home that meets your needs and priorities you’ll be happy to live in it for years to come.

Neighborhood or Home Amenities

For some homebuyers, living in a particular neighborhood takes precedence over all other priorities, but for others, the home itself matters more. Ideally, you’ll find the perfect home in the neighborhood you love at a price that’s below your budget, but realistically, most people have to make some compromises.

Find homes for sale on You (and your spouse, partner or family) should make a list of what features you want in a home, such as the number of bedrooms, a fenced yard, granite counters in the kitchen, and then rank them in terms of priorities. Think about whether the house or the community matter more to you, and whether it’s worth it to you to make a longer commute in order to live in a home with a larger lot.

When to Compromise

Once you’ve determined whether the location or the house itself matters most, you may have to compromise on some of your priorities. If the location is the most important factor for your home choice but you find that homes are priced above your budget, you can compromise in several ways:

– Look for a different home type within the community, such as a smaller single family home, a town home or condominium. Decide if you can live with one less bedroom or other features on your list.

– Consult with a lender or a financial planner to discuss your options for increasing your budget. While no one should overspend on a home, you should recognize that going $10,000 above your price range when you’re financing your purchase with a 30-year fixed-rate loan will actually add only about $30 to your monthly payment.

– Lower your expectations about the condition of the home. While everyone prefers a move-in ready home, you can often get a better deal on a home that needs some cosmetic repairs. Be careful, though, to have a home inspection and to evaluate the structure of the home to see that it meets your needs. Moving walls and adding a bathroom are costly renovations, while painting and replacing appliances are more reasonable.

If you have your heart set on a specific home style or a home with a larger yard for your children or to garden, your compromise is more likely to be in the location. If you’re willing to commute farther or perhaps choose a home in a community next to the ‘hot’ neighborhood, you can often find a more affordable home that fulfills your wish list. An experienced Realtor can help you determine when and how to compromise and should take the time to show you a variety of alternatives so you can make an informed decision about when to make an offer. – Think you might be ready to buy? Visit our newest addition, Doorsteps, to explore the home buying process at your own pace. On your own terms.

To read more, or to view homes in your area, click on this link.